Bake sales, the calorie-laden standby cash-strapped classrooms, PTAs and booster clubs rely on, will be outlawed from public schools as of Aug. 1 as part of new no-nonsense nutrition standards, forcing fundraisers back to the blackboard to cook up alternative ways to raise money for kids.

At a minimum, the nosh clampdown targets so-called “competitive” foods — those sold or served during the school day in hallways, cafeterias, stores and vending machines outside the regular lunch program, including bake sales, holiday parties and treats dished out to reward academic achievement. But state officials are pushing schools to expand the ban 24/7 to include evening, weekend and community events such as banquets, door-to-door candy sales and football games.[MORE]

François Hollande will strike fear into the hearts of the rich

France will be waking up today to its first Socialist President for 17 years – and bracing for radical change. There are all kinds of reasons why one might fear a François Hollande presidency, especially if you are a prosperous French person.[MORE]

Dinosaur gases 'warmed the Earth'

British scientists have calculated the methane output of sauropods, including the species known as Brontosaurus.

By scaling up the digestive wind of cows, they estimate that the population of dinosaurs - as a whole - produced 520 million tonnes of gas annually.

They suggest the gas could have been a key factor in the warm climate 150 million years ago.[MORE]

Report: Principal Created ‘Suzy’ Facebook Page To Snoop On Students

The principal at Clayton High School has resigned after stories surfaced claiming that she created a bogus Facebook account to spy on students.

The official reason given for Dr. Louise Losos’ resignation was a “fundamental dispute concerning the appropriate use of social media”.[MORE]

Race fear cops ban the word ‘blacklist’

Police chiefs have banned IT staff from using the word blacklist over fears it is racist.

The computer term whitelist — used to denote a list of acceptable contacts — has also been outlawed.

In an email, Scotland Yard warned staff the words were no longer “appropriate”.[MORE]

Elderly OKC Man Accused Of Talking Dirty To 911 Operators

Oklahoma City police arrest an elderly man for allegedly calling 911 operators to talk about sex.

According to a police report, Clyde Dorain Hobbs, 72, called 911 on Saturday, May 5 at least 17 times. The report reveals Hobbs made sexually oriented comments to the emergency operators each time he called.[MORE]

Woman Attacked By Boyfriend’s Pet Lynx

A local woman’s arm was injured severely after her boyfriend’s pet lynx attacked her at home.

According to KING-TV, the woman was attacked Friday while she was cleaning. It reportedly escaped from its cage and bit her.[MORE]

Obesity could affect 42% of Americans by 2030

A new forecast on America's obesity crisis has health experts fearing a dramatic jump in health care costs if nothing is done to bring the epidemic under control.

The new projection, released here Monday, warns that 42% of Americans may end up obese by 2030, and 11% could be severely obese, adding billions of dollars to health care costs.[MORE]

Biden dangles prospect of teaming with Hillary in 2016

Vice President Joe Biden, who is preparing to embark on the 2012 re-election campaign trail, suggested Sunday he might be interested in running in 2016 -- paired on a ticket with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"I think we may run as a team," Biden teased in an interview on NBC television to discuss his political future as President Barack Obama's right hand man in the White House, during the campaign leading to November's presidential election, and beyond.[MORE]

Why Can't Obama Bring Wall Street to Justice?

With the Occupy protesters resuming battle stations, and Mitt Romney in place as the presumptive Republican nominee, President Obama has begun to fashion his campaign as a crusade for the 99 percent--a fight against, as one Obama ad puts it, "a guy who had a Swiss bank account." Casting Romney as a plutocrat will be easy enough. But the president's claim as avenging populist may prove trickier, given his own deeply complicated, even conflicted, relationship with Big Finance.[MORE]

Son, 14, To Be Charged In Murder Of Homeland Security Agent

A judge Monday ordered a 14-year-old boy to appear in court in two weeks to face murder charges in the death of his father, a Homeland Security agent.

Myron Chisem, 42, was shot to death with his own weapon at his Carson home last week.[MORE]

Losses at Oprah's OWN approach a staggering $330m as industry insiders predict it will be axed within the year

The losses at Oprah Winfrey’s troubled cable channel are approaching a staggering $330 million, according to a report over the weekend.

Industry insiders believe the channel - the Oprah Winfrey network (OWN) - will not last another year unless they come up with a hit show and make a dramatic turnaround.[MORE]

Thousands of pills filled with powdered human baby flesh discovered by customs officials in South Korea

Thousands of pills filled with powdered human flesh have been discovered by customs officials in South Korea, it was revealed today.

The capsules are in demand because they are viewed as being a medicinal 'cure-all'.

The grim trade is being run from China where corrupt medical staff are said to be tipping off medical companies when babies are aborted or delivered still-born.[MORE]

Prosecutor: Murder Of Burlington Mother Broadcast On iPad Camera

The brutal murder of a mother in Burlington last week was broadcast live on her daughter’s iPad web camera, investigators revealed Monday.

Thirty-nine-year-old Christopher Piantedosi pleaded not guilty to murder at his arraignment in Woburn District Court.[MORE]